Today's American Minute — Labor Day
Labor Day, Railroad Strikes, & Eugene Debs' Socialist Party of America - American Minute with Bill Federer
founder of the Socialist Party of America - American Minute with Bill Federer Labor Day Railroad Strike & Eugene Debs
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There was rioting, pillaging, and burning of railroad cars, destroying an estimated $80 million worth of property in 27 states.
A New York Times editorial, July 9, 1894, called Debs "a lawbreaker at large, an enemy of the human race."
"Debs' Rebellion" became a national issue when it interrupted the trains delivering mail.
President Grover Cleveland declared the strike a federal crime and deployed 12,000 U.S. Army troops to break up the strike.